Youth encouraged to take charge of their lives
The programme will assist the youth transform their lives by offering a helping hand in finding jobs, creating jobs, obtain school materials and fight bullying as well as drug addiction.
Choose your friends wisely and listen to their parents as well as teachers, Mamelodi youths were told.
They were told this during the official launch of Boys to Men imbizo and dialogue, a 12-month Vhathu Phanda community forum men’s brigade programme aimed at changing the local youths’ lives.
The event was held at Rethabile community hall in partnership with correctional services, Thandanani drop inn, Youth in Dialogue and Tshwane metro health on Tuesday.
Thabo Moshabelo of Vhathu Phanda said the programme aims to help the youth live a better life.
He said the launch coincided with the celebration of International Day for Boy Children under the theme of the impact of harmful childhood experiences in the township.
“We have invited school boys, youth from 18-year-olds from various spheres of life from drugs users, inmates to dropouts,” said Moshabelo.
The programme will help youths change their lives by offering a helping hand in finding jobs, creating jobs, obtaining school materials and fighting bullying as well as drug addiction.
Irvan Modiba (42) of Mamelodi West, a parolee, advised the youth to use and work with what they have or what their parents can afford to advance themselves.
He said he started doing crime at the age of 14 and has spent most of his life in prison because of commercial crimes.
“Social issues and coming from a poor background have led me to a life of crime, which I regret today,” said Modiba.
“Criminals always target those who are intelligent and they will destroy one’s life.”
He said his dream of becoming a doctor was shattered by crime.
He encouraged learners to take charge of their lives now, stay away from crime and focus on their dreams and goals.
Nicolas Seakamela of Baviaanspoort prison also encouraged schoolboys to focus on their schoolwork and stay away from crime.
“Crime does not pay and life in prison is not easy,” he said.
He said nobody wanted to find themselves arrested, because of the things that are happening in prison.
“You are told when to sleep and eat. It’s best you listen to your parents and teachers, take their advice and work hard to achieve more than they have achieved in life,” said Seakamela.
He said there was a lot of gangsterism in prison and committing crime while inside lengthens the sentence.
Moshabelo said men’s brigade would take a second cohort next year and also give feedback to the community about the first.
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